Paradigm Shift

6 Steps to a Better Day

In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come so that they may have life, and have it to the full.” It is Jesus’ desire for people to live their lives at the fullest. He believed in people enjoying their days; and He even gave His life for it. So why isn’t every day awesome?

I believe that living an abundant life comes from having a strong spiritual foundation, a healthy physical lifestyle, and consistent personal growth. Here are 6 steps which have helped me improve the quality of my days.

Step 1: Spend 15 – 20 minutes reading before going to sleep.
Reading before bed has been proven to help reduce cortisol levels in the brain, which help reduce stress, anxiety and even symptoms of depression.

Step 2: Upon waking, chug a bottle of (room temperature) water.
Taking in 1-2 cups of water upon waking can increase metabolism by 30% after 30–40 minutes. In addition, it also helps with keeping the flow of nutrients and helps get rid of free radicals and toxins. This will ultimately decrease fatigue and mood fluctuations.

Step 3: Prayer.
The first half of my prayer is thankfulness. By spending time acknowledging every single thing that you have been given in life, you will immediately be in a better mood and be able to accomplish the things you set forth that day and tackle any challenges that may pose themselves much better. According to Robert Emmons Ph.D., regular grateful thinking can increase happiness by as much as 25%. I make a point to recognize and thank God for everything that comes to mind, both big and small. Like the sun rising again, my physical capabilities, my senses, my friends, family, home, vehicle, clothes, talents, career, etc. (Sometimes this can take a while – but that’s a good thing!)

Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing.

The second half consists of mentally mapping out my day, and speaking life into all of the goals I have set. Affirmations, or positive thinking, can interrupt your maladaptive neuro-nets. The more you do this, the more those nerve cells that are connected to each other start breaking the long-term relationship with your negative thoughts, literally re-wiring to your new, affirming beliefs. Science calls this neuroplasticity and it is the proof behind how powerful this practice can be.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof – Proverbs 18:31

Step 4: Eat (a healthy) breakfast.Breakfast is a critical meal because it influences practically every dimension of our being during the course of the day, including how we perform physically and mentally. Breakfast immediately raises the body’s energy level and restores the blood glucose level to normal after an overnight fast. It also raises the muscle and liver glycogen stores.

Step 5: Moderate exercise for 20 – 30 minutes.Morning exercise has been shown to improve focus, metabolism and mental abilities all day long. Not only will you feel awake and have more energy, but your mind will be ready to take on whatever tasks you have lined up. In addition, it releases endorphin’s, which trigger a positive feeling in the body.

Step 6: Learn something (relevant to your career and/or passions) for 30 minutes.
The more you know, the more you can help people. If you want to be successful, you have to consistently focus on how that product or service is benefiting others. God put us on this planet and gave us a mission, and that is to serve others. By investing a short period of time each morning to learning a little bit more, you will have more opportunities to relay that information to others throughout the day and begin to positively impact more lives.

I believe that it is God’s will for each of us to experience better days. In order for this to happen, we must take action! The way to improve the quality of our lives starts with us being intentional on a daily basis.